Posted on 04/09/2010 5:41:37 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak, the congressman who led anti-abortion rights Democrats in the House during health care negotiations, will retire this year, CBS News has learned. He is expected to announce his plans later this morning.
Had Stupak sought re-election, he would have faced challengers from both the left and the right backed by interest groups angered by Stupak's health care vote.
Stupak negotiated with Democratic leaders down to the eleventh hour for stricter abortion language in the health care bill, but he ultimately voted for it after President Obama agreed to sign an executive order assuring the new laws will keep taxpayer dollars from funding abortions.
That prompted the conservative Tea Party Express to launch a $250,000 ad campaign against Stupak this week. The group also scheduled a handful of stops on its bus tour in Stupak's district.
On the left, the abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America has been working to defeat Stupak and instead elect his Democratic primary challenger Connie Saltonstall.
Like many other congressmen, Stupak received violent threats from citizens after his health care vote. However, the Michigan Democrat came under particularly intense scrutiny because of his role in the abortion debate.
I think not.
I am waiting for the next shoe to fall, I think Dingell is really vulnerable, but he may be to stupid and arrogant to retire. If so Dr. Steele might just trounce him fair and square in the political arena.
Zzzing!!
Thanks (NOT!) for the turd in the punchbowl on your way out.
He is lower that whale dung, and that is found on the bottom of the ocean. The Devil has not yet devised a punishment suitable for those that would kill innocent babies willingly.
The democrats have struggled to hold that district and have really only managed to hold it through redistricting. It was once represented by John Conyers of all people and it wasn’t because the people in the northern lower pensinsula or the UP wanted him.
I'll bet this will be used by Democrats as his reason for retiring.
I think you will win that bet!
Plus, there'll be no mention of the death threats he got before he changed his vote! Friggin' coward!!!!
I'm wondering now, how long will it be before Bowrama tears up the executive order?
I hope they don’t. However, Stupak, himself, has personally been identified at the target for his personal betrayal. That tactic is usually effective (see Alinksy rule #12) but it has a second cutting edge. Like we observed in the recent NJ Senate race, If you (as a democrat strategist) remove an incumbent with extremely high negatives and personally targeted by the opposition, you take away a MAJOR attack avenue and might actually improve your parties chances of success.
I personally believe this has improved their chances from less than 5% to a still low, but greater percent, maybe as high as 20%. It depends on a lot of factors yet to be seen.
A “Maverick” dem (i know, they don’t really exist, but they can act like they do, see Russ Feingold’s first race), and a complicent media, and a somewhat less fired-up opposition base (due to Stupak’s name not on the ballot) might be able to woo enough of the lifelong dems to make this race much more expensive than it otherwise would be.
“Bart Stupak to Retire”
Chickensh*t.
Doesn’t matter. Judas tried to give back the silver too.
Excellent observation!
Heck, he probably tore it up as soon as Stupack left the room. I'll bet the ink wasn't even dry.
Well, this move is like running from the scene of the accident. What a vile human being.
I wrote him concerning my dismay at his caving in on the Health Care bill. I pointed out some of the tax increases in the bill. It was a very civil letter when you consider how he voted.
His reply?! “Thank you for contacting me in support if full funding for rural health care programs.” It went on to explain what he is doing for this program.
Do these people even read their mail? Or are all the office help ACORN hires?
Good. One less hollow man.
huh? where does it say that?
What a foolish, evil man.
getting a P/R job with Planned Parenthood, no doubt
Looks like Bart Stupid isn’t too dumb to understand the writing on the wall. Don’t let the door hit you on the ass, scumbag.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.